Representatives of the Uzbek chess school delivered impressive performances at the Youth World Rapid and Blitz Championships held from November 2 to 6 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. The prestigious tournament brought together talented young players from around the globe to compete in open and girls' categories across different age groups. Participants played nine rounds in rapid chess with a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move, while the blitz events featured 13 rounds with a three-minute time control and a two-second increment per move.
Key Takeaways: Humoyun Begmuratov claimed the gold medal in the open rapid event, Umida Omonova earned silver in the girls' rapid competition, and Afruza Khamdamova added a silver medal in the girls' blitz tournament.
One of the standout performers of the championship was 16-year-old Uzbek grandmaster Humoyun Begmuratov. Competing in the open rapid section, he scored 7.5 points out of 9 possible without suffering a single defeat, securing six wins and three draws. Entering the tournament ranked seventh with a rating of 2433, Begmuratov achieved a decisive victory in the eighth round playing with the black pieces against top-seeded Indian grandmaster Pranav Venkatesh. In the final round, our compatriot drew with another Indian representative, Pranit Vuppala, which safely preserved his first-place finish and elevated his tournament performance rating to 2533.
In the girls' section, Uzbek athletes similarly demonstrated strong competitive spirit. Umida Omonova claimed second place in the rapid tournament after scoring 6.5 points out of 9. Despite a stellar start that included multiple consecutive victories, Omonova stumbled in the final rounds against the Netherlands' Eline Rubers and her compatriot Afruza Khamdamova. Nevertheless, superior tiebreak scores allowed her to retain the silver medal, while Eline Rubers secured the world championship title with 7 points.
Furthermore, 17-year-old Afruza Khamdamova captured the third medal for the Uzbek delegation on November 6 by finishing second in the girls' blitz championship. Over the course of 13 grueling rounds, she accumulated 9.5 points, recording seven victories, five draws, and only a single loss. Following an early setback in the third round, Khamdamova rebounded magnificently by winning four consecutive games, including a victory over rapid champion Eline Rubers. Russian player Valeria Kleymenova ultimately clinched the blitz world title with 10 points out of 13.
The stellar achievements of young Uzbek chess players on the international stage highlight the ongoing development and success of the nation's intellectual sports programs. Experts anticipate that these encouraging results will pave the way for even greater accomplishments in future global competitions.
Source: www.gazeta.uz